Friday, December 31, 2010

In the new year, my columns in the Winnipeg Sun will be augmented by appearances with Shadoe Davis on 92Citi-FM, which I am tempted to call Back to the Future.

One of the reasons for the immediate acceptance of The Great Canadian Talk Show 4 years ago, was that Winnipeggers had already heard our wry commentaries and civic election coverage on Citi's top-rated drive show in special interview segments with Cosmo. (I want to thank Cosmo for helping open that door. When listeners hit the scan button cause you were stopping down, they heard a voice they already knew would make them laugh and make them think.)

* AS well, later in January, I will again be hosting Classic Canadian Wrestling, a fast-paced family show that gets kids screaming and parents laughing. By the end of the card we even manage to tell kids that bullying ain't cool.The last event in Gilbert Park was awesome and the promotion would be glad to work with your community too. Internationally-traveled veteran Manitoba grapplers with some of the modern flyers mixed in, a professional performance of the tradition of TV wrestling.

* And we are considering producing another Live Event Podcast with a studio audience. If you would be interested in attending and seeing the inside of the cancelation cover-up, please email martygoldlive@gmail.com ^^^ OnLine Early Next Year, PART TWO of our Live Event Podcast, and why the "official story" didn't pass the sniff test. The crowd reaction tells who Winnipeg believe once the whole story behind how censorship of the voices of the community was dictated was heard and shown.

You will hear the emails and news stories of denials and diversions. The reason why pressure is mounting on those involved is from an audience outraged that their opinions did not matter and that Freedom of Expression was violated by educators and broadcasters.

TGCTS proved, in front of a live audience able to ask questions and debate among themselves, that our civic election coverage was backed up on the record, by eyewitnesses who were ignored by mainstream media reporters and inexplicably, Winnipeg electoral officials, when they came forward regarding statements from NDP candidate Ross Eadie of illegal civic campaign financing.

3)No one else called out the Vancouver Olympic organizers for letting Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger get a Torch run instead of a deserving average citizen just because his predecessor Gary Doer was pals with Ah-nold, Spirited Kenny discovered.

"(Selinger's) Olympic run on January 6th received unquestioning fawning attention from the local mainstream media, which ignored Vanoc's prohibition against politicians taking part for ethical reasons, even as they covered the ethics of reporters participating in the relay....

Kenny then put Vanoc on the spot:

"Why was the selection of Gary Doer to run with the torch, passed to Greg Selinger?

It would appear that Greg Selinger was award the honour of running with the torch because of his elected office that he held.

This is a complete contradiction to the VANOC rules for torchbearers."

Vanoc immediately passed the buck despite having admitted they held final approval :

" Hello Ken, please be advised thatCanwest made this selection regarding Greg Selinger. You can contact them directly:

John D DouglasMBA

Senior Vice President, Public Affairs

Canwest Global Communications Corp."

Only TGCTS examined the links between Selinger's improper Olympic Torch run, the Aspers, the boondoggle Stadium and the bloated Human Rights Museum.

4) At the end of February, we showed the versatility and relevance of the alternative media as the people who our listeners, commented on issues and stories the MSM generally did not cover or understand - as some very pointed emails showed, they were beginning show the meaning of YOU HAVE THE POWER

-- CFS dysfunction risks kids lives and the Childrens' Advocate was in turmoil, while Selinger and Minister Gord huff and puff'd and avoided the truth:"In Question Period, the opposition cited concerns about supports for social workers handling 8600 files and for foster parents, insisting Selinger call an emergency public commitee meeting to allow MLA's to ask questions of Kocsic.

Unreported by the mainstream media, 15 consecutive times Selinger side-stepped the demand - until the very next day, when government House leader Bill Blaikie announced that Kocsis, with provincial ombudsman Irene Hamilton and Manitoba auditor Carol Bellringer have agreed to appear before MLA's. Macintosh also smugly announced a new bill would pass within a week, to compel an annual appearance by the CA on Broadway, which had suddenly become a good idea, and an NDP one, at that. "

- the abuses of Assiniboine, Sherbrook, Berry St, and River Heights by the bike lobby and their friends inside city hall, and how the voters sent a message instead of accepting "Kiss Your Parking Spot Goodbye"

- actual bike counts, a look inside the lobbyists handbook, and the root of the cycling fanatic's sense of entitlement

- evidence of what city hall's "professionals" claim there is no proof of - the plan of the Friends of Upper Fort Garry to grab a block of Assiniboine Avenue and the bike lane was step one

- west end garbage, remembering Canada's Greatest Athlete Gene Kiniski, and more !*************For our new readers:

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WORKED WITH, SPONSORED, WAS INTERVIEWED, EMAILED, CALLED INTO, TEXTED, OR LEFT A BROWN ENVELOPE FOR THE GREAT CANADIAN TALK SHOW ON 92.9 KICK-FM FROM 2006 TO 2010.

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE BLOGGERS, JOURNALISTS, CANDIDATES, ANALYSTS, PUNDITS, AND OF COURSE, FRANK THE ITALIAN BARBER :)

WE HAVE LOTS OF NEW DOCUMENTS THAT YOU WILL ALL WANT TO SEE AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT, COMING OUT IN 2011. SOME OF THOSE INVOLVED HAD SOME THINGS TO SAY ABOUT YOU -- OUR LISTENERS -- AS WELL AS ABOUT US.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Whether you are from British Columbia, the Yukon, New Hampshire or Washington, your interest in our stories and the attack on freedom of expression in Winnipeg is very much appreciated. The past 4 months has generated 25% of our all time blog traffic and we had already doubled over the previous 12 months. More and more people are seeking out the alternative media for the details and analysis they need to help them find the truth about matters that concern them and the community.

I'd like to also recognize our many new visitors brought over from my columns in the Winnipeg Sun. The feedback from column 1 led to the follow-up. I see the print column as giving you a voice in the mainstream media, so keep sending your story tips to martygoldlive@gmail.comand I'll keep holding elected officials and bureaucrats to account. If you have not seen those columns, scroll down to our earlier posts in December for the links.

More information about the rush to cancel our show, on the verge of the 4th Anniversary with no complaints filed with the CRTC, will be acquired in the new year.

For now, the first step is to correct the mistaken ideas and misinformation about TGCTS that circulated in the community and online, in the days following November 8th.

This confusion was caused in part by the behavior and statements from Red River College, much of it by the Dean of Business, Graham Thomson, who is a non-voting member of the Kick-FM Board and acts as its mouthpiece. He is also the person who read (but would not hand over) the termination notice to me that last day.

Note that NO one truly responsible for the radio station has ever made a public statement for the media or consented to an interview. This has led led to a lot of questions and comments about the real reasons of why the voice of the community was silenced.

Commonly these opinions were expressed as

"why does he even have a show, he's not a student", " people get fired in radio all the time like that, his rights weren't breached", "the College owns the station and can do whatever they want", " I heard there were all sorts of complaints about the show"" It wasn't fair to the students who wanted to get their own shows"

On December 7th TGCTS hosted a Live Audience version of the show to get the facts on the record.

It was a very unique experience as a performer and commentator. What our listeners and supporters said and felt about what they heard that night -- the truth behind the cancelation - is further proof, You Have The Power.The power to learn, to ask questions, to get answers and to act.

After some introductory banter on news and other things such as my Freedom of Information application on the Parking Authority, between myself and Spirited Kenny, who was producing the show, we embarked on a lengthy Powerpoint presentation for the live crowd.

This Podcast (link is below) covers the chronology of how the show was contracted to serve the students and volunteers with the involvement of a Kick-FM director, our work on the Civic Election, the false claims that canceling the show was actually to help train students ("core mandate"), all the way to what went on until that National Post story.

It includes comments from former RRC president Jeff Zabudsky; what listeners were hearing from their sources and their opinions about the cancelation; the scuttlebutt from Red River College students and their concerns; the important questions Kick-FM fans including RRC graduates and former students were asking, that got different answers depending on who was asking; and the on- the-record comments from Thomson and Goodhand.

Part 2, with the real story that points to a cover-up of the censorship of freedom of expression that is behind all of this, and how it all unravels, will be posted soon.

PS - as seen in the post directly below, I was playing Santa this morning at the women's shelter. Here is a note posted online by the executive director following up on that post:

Barb Judt: What beautiful story Marty.

Marty was a FABULOUS Santa this morning at Osborne House!! The children and their mothers were in awe of him and everyone had a wonderful time. You made my heart smile Marty - thank you for helping us out with this and as always, your incredible support. We consider ourselves quite fortunate to have you looking out for us.

Friday, December 24, 2010

News of the passing this past Tuesday of Dr. Morris Erenberg Z'L" evoked very strong memories for me.

His son David, a fellow true-blue Sittler/McDonald/Salming/ 'Paaahl-ma-teeeah makes the saaaave' Maple Leafs fan, was one of my closest friends in high school.

We did dueling Bob Cole imitations and aspired to great misadventures. A sarcastic, witty and athletic guy, he waxed philosophic on the issues of the day, That 70's Show style, while shooting hoops, playing field hockey and football, and yes sceptics, even riding our bikes sometimes.

The next son in line, Reuven, was a lanky classmate of my sisters' and was an even bigger character than Dave.

Legend had it Reuv once got tossed out of Hebrew class - surely intentional - and on the way out marched up to the teacher (who as an Israeli would have had no clue what he was doing), evoked the Baron von Raschke claw pose, announced " and DAT is all de people need to know !! ", and goose-stepped out of the room.

The youngest, Noah, was a well mannered and light-hearted kid who shared my interest in documentary journalism, was fleet afoot, ran the Manitoba Marathon as a lark, and became the kid brother to all of us. When he played sports with us older teens, there was a no-hit sign on him and everyone respected it.

The Erenberg family had endured the tragedy of the death of an older daughter Brina after a valiant battle with cancer. (Her name endures today with one of Noah's children.)

Two years later, when my own father died, the Erenberg boys were at my side.

The Erenberg boys were reflections of the intellect and ethics of their father and mother Miriam. "Mo" completed his internship in Anaethesia at Deer Lodge Hospital in 1965, a man well versed in patient care, philosophy and Yiddishkeit. He led High Holiday services at B'nai Israel Synagogue around the corner from the family home in Garden City, and later in life, led the Sunday morning Minyan at Sha'arey Zedek Synagogue and was a respected Talmudic scholar.

Dr. Erenberg gave me great counsel during my own fathers' illness. His home was always open to all the friends of his children. My deepest condolences to the Erenberg family for the loss of their patriarch.

-----------------------

Around 1993, I became friends with 3 girls who were roommates. None were from Winnipeg, and all were around 20 years old. I was in love with the first one of them I met, but ended up eventually dating the second girl, while becoming good friends through the months with the third.

In early December that year, late one night, I gave a ride to the girl I was in love with. She got in the cab and sweetly said (that was her usual tone) " I have a question for you ". She hesitated, but went on. Her roommates were going home for the holidays, one east and one west, and, being that I am Jewish and all ... she was wondering if she could stay with me for Christmas instead of alone at their place. She hesistated to ask because, as she reminded me this week " you were SO old!(I was 33) ", but she got over it thankfully...

The calendar was the same that year as this year, with the holiday falling on a weekend. That meant my roommate at the time, Chi Chi Cruz, would not be working or away wrestling, and wasn't able to go home to Hartney, Manitoba either. I would be taking the days off work too, but he was pretty happy for me and quite liked the girl so he was cool with us having company over for the weekend as my guest.

So, on that Friday night 17 years ago, I drove my shift with some eagerness.

Freezing cold it was that year, when there was far more hustle and bustle hauling last minute shoppers on icy city streets -- until it suddenly shifted gears like into a different day, into families visiting each other, going to church, or maybe the last minute $10 ride to the airport.

At 11 PM, with my Uncle Phil ready to take over the cab and already reminding me about the Winnipeg Jewish tradition -- " Christmas Day lunch at 11.30 AM at Shanghai Martin!- don't sleep in! I'll be starving!", I picked my friend up at their west end apartment.

It was a remarkable weekend I remember always at this time of year. Mostly we watched some WCW and Tony Condello promotion wrestling on VHS, laughed at music videos on TV, and I was busy fixing sumptuous meals of kosher-style cuisine ("What's a Strubbs?"), while my two twenty-ish Christian friends from small town Canada invoked toasts of everyone and everything they could think of, as they reflected on Christmases past, in their snowy small towns, and of being little kids waiting for Santa to visit.

The third roommate, who I had seen for 10 minutes once by accident 1000 miles away 11 years ago, but basically, haven't spent any time with in over 16 years, is now visiting Winnipeg from the coast. Her son's girlfriend was still overdue and wasn't in the hospital as expected so she came by to visit and reminisce. I told her that I had a meeting to go to at Osborne House that afternoon, and she offered to drive me over and sit in as part of our day together.

She found a parking spot and we walked a short distance to the women's shelter. My friend suddenly exclaimed - "I recognize that place".

That was only the first surprise.

Now working in the administration of a university, she told Executive Director Barb Judt about arriving at that same door about 18 years ago, and how the staff had to carefully pry her infant son out of her left arm, as her partner had shattered it with a baseball bat.

The shelter saved her life and that of her son. I did not know that. Now she had returned, to await and welcome her first grandchild.

In addition to her regular job, my friend also works many evenings at a woman's shelter. That I knew, but I did not know, until the chance meeting of her and Barb, of the deep connection she has to the clients of these kinds of social services.

The second surprise, far more pleasant, was that Barb and my friend share another mutual friend beside myself, as she had grown up in western Manitoba with Jennifer Howard, now Manitoba Minister of Labour -- and a huge supporter of Osborne House.

The meeting with Barb was about Christmas at the shelter.

Last year, one of the children plaintively asked a question.

"How can Santa find us if we aren't at home?"

So of course Barb had bought a Santa suit, and the third surprise of the conversation was on my friend, because the meeting was about how this year (tomorrow) - I get to add "Santa Claus" to the roles I have played in this life.

That night, when we telephoned girl #1 for a holiday reunion, the girls had quite the laugh as they imagined me as the man in the red suit, handing out jars of Strubbs Sour Dills no doubt, to confused little children.

This opportunity came to me, because of the trust built by our work on Kick-FM this Summer and Fall, to defend the shelter from the antics of City Hall, whose "experts" decided the victims of domestic violence should be secondary to the demands of the Bike Lobby to alter the South Broadway neighborhood.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Attempts to directly intimidate Red River College into silencing free speech and The Great Canadian Talk Show on 92.9 Kick-FM was not a tactic reserved for the Winnipeg Free Press.

We have learned the tactic was trail-blazed by an employee of Red River College, who claimed to be relaying the message from their former place of employment -- Winnipeg City Hall.

What the person did not apparently do, however, was disclose that they were also a member of a cycling lobby group -- RHCO (River Heights-Corydon-Osborne), and attended formal meetings with many members of Bike to the Future (BttF).

The double - agent was "concerned" that the relationship between the College and City Hall may be somehow affected due to our questioning of the actions of city officials and bike path consultants, and their connections with the Bike Lobby.

In an attempt to undermine our radio show, the message suggested all those associated with the station, including the College, could be sued if we persisted. The College's lawyer confirmed to Kick-FM and College officials there was no evidence of defamation being broadcast.

The timing is very telling.

The attempt to intimidate Red River College (the funder of the campus station) came one day after Councillor Jeff Browaty promised to demand answers, after the city 311 service diverted an email addressed to the City Auditor.

As heard on TGCTS all during the week RRC was pressured, blogger Graham Hnatiuk provided clear evidence that key stakeholders in South Broadway were never spoken to by the consultants, even though the contract required it as a pre-condition to rolling out the construction.

He questioned why payments to the Assiniboine Avenue bike path consultants were made, and asked the Auditor who was responsible for paying for costly revisions that were going to be necessary due to the mishandling of the file (and as are going on, to this very day).

The 311 service lied to Hnatiuk that the Auditor did not deal with public inquiries such as his, and sent his email instead to Active Transportation coordinator Kevin Nixon, whose job it was to supervise the consultants work in the first place.

Assiniboine was one of many projects, including Berry St. and Sherbrook, in which a pattern of neglect of the concerns and needs of residents and businesses of the community, in favour of Bike Lobby demands, was exposed on TGCTS.In this case, a Red River College employee claimed to have received a complaint -- which was obviously from one of their friends -- but presented it as if came from a legitimate source.The precedent has been set, that anyone who challenges the Bike Lobby and their friends at City Hall might find themselves blindsided by attacks from secret allies of those who are under scrutiny.

Such is the value of Freedom of Expression to members of the Bike Lobby, who will use their professional connections to waft veiled threats to funders, rather than put those "complaints" in writing, and respect the principles of due process and fairness.

Our thanks to those who voiced their appreciation for our first Sun column, and once again to our new readers, welcome! Use the search function on this blog (top left of page) or refer to the tags on the right, to see our archive of previous issues we have covered on TGCTS. You are always email you comments and story tips to martygoldlive@gmail.com

********************Putting the final touches on a special blog post :

We've learned that those involved with the Assiniboine bike lane were sending a "message" to Red River College officials, while our radio program broke story after story about the one-sided "consultation" process and defended the South Broadway neighborhood from exactly what our column in the Sun describes has now happened- waste of tax dollars, disruption of normal business and services, and downtown gridlock on Broadway. Details upcoming....

******************

Blogs to read:

** Stadium financing scam --

Menno Zacharias: "...the total cost to Winnipeg tax payers is in the range of 87 million dollars. That ups the City’s percentage contribution to the project from 6% to 46%."

** The Evan "taken for a drive and dumped out of town by police maybe I think coulda been possibly perhaps" Maud investigation:

Menno again: " When I read the media accounts of this incident, the assertion by Maud that police took away his jacket and substituted a sweater was one such statement. It just did not make any sense and suggested an alternative explanation that accounted for the complaint’s jacket perhaps being missing."

( Don't you think the professionals in mainstream media should have noticed when looking over their competitors' stories that this Maud fellow told 3 different versions of his tale - was he tossed into the car or asked to hop in? where was he asked to walk a straight line? was he walking down the street or waiting for a bus?)

Suburban NIMBY's opposed to high rises :

Graham Hnatiuk: " I usually view these kinds of infill projects as a loss to downtown. Remember that light bulb that turned on in my head? It flickered again: when residents make an appeal against high rises in their neihbourhood (sic)? THEYRE ON MY SIDE! They're saying "these don't belong here. Build them somewhere else. Leave my suburb alone."

Friday, December 17, 2010

Welcome to our new readers brought to us via our column in the Winnipeg Sun.

Supporters of The Great Canadian Talk Show include

- many graduates and former students from Red River College, as well as current students and staff members,

- Mayor Sam Katz, City Councillor Harvey Smith, the Winnipeg Police Association, social service agency leaders, educators, University professors, journalists, and broadcasters, - musicians, business owners, working men and women, athletes, and many listeners who also value Freedom of Expression -- even if they did not agree with opinions expressed on the program.

They do not, for one minute, believe the cover story that Kick-FM acted independently of the pressure from the Winnipeg Free Press on new president Stephanie Forsyth to silence the opinions expressed on our show, and our training of volunteers and students in the alternative media.

As well they shouldn't.

When not appearing at NDP press conferences to hover within camera range of the unelected Premier Greg Selinger and Education Minister Nancy Allan, Forsyth has been receiving emails such as this one (reprinted with permission) from disgusted graduates of RRC, which Forsyth surely read and thought about very carefully:

As a former graduate of Red River College(in 2007 [Business Admin]),I am absolutely embarrassedat your lack of leadership in the firing of Marty Gold.

He's helped me (and a ton more people)with many questions and concerns thatI had regarding city issuesand I thoroughly enjoyed his talk show everyday on my drive home.

He informed me on many subjects that themainstream media shields us from.Yet, you cancel his show due tobullying from the Free Press and insult usby claiming it has somethingto do with reorganization and student air-time?

I read somewhere that you had a"positive and supportive leadership style".Yet, to terminatean informative show that not only the public loved,but our own PoliceAssociation endorsed, makes me see youas nothing but a hypocrite.

You claim to be about your commitment to your students,yet you don't even consult with themregarding his cancellation?Marty Gold did not even receive a salaryto train the students and volunteers who cycled throughthe program over the past four years.Yet you discard him like a pieceof trash.

I know you'll blow this email off(which I'm sure your assistant willdelete before you even read)but I'm praying that you'll do the right thing.Please bring both Marty and his show back.If you have no problemlooking at yourself in the mirrorknowing you could have done somethingabout it but didn't, I really feel sorry for you ...

I was proud to be an alum of Red River....now I'm embarrassedthat the president of the college wouldtreat someone this way.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Quick notes to our listeners and readers, Freedom of Speech is clearly an important issue to you all. You Have The Power to hold those who silenced the voices of the community to account.

Firstly, our debut column in the Winnipeg Sun

City hall’s irrational love of bike lanes

"For the businesses and residents in the South Broadway area, this has provided a unique opportunity for the city to demonstrate utter bumbling and wasteful incompetence year-round, right on their own doorstep."

- educational institutions such as Red River College, Sheridan College, Algonquin College, and NorthWest Community College; and the Universities of Winnipeg, Manitoba, British Columbia, Simon Fraser, Lethbridge, and Calgary;

** Some supporters, including RRC alumni, have now filed official complaints with the Red River College Board of Governors which is meeting tonight.

*** Official complaints have also been filed by concerned listeners with the CRTC about the operation of the non-profit Cre-Comm Inc, which has again designated 4 commercial radio station executives as "community members" of the Kick-FM Board of Directors. One of them, as chairman, declared they would not answer any questions or ask any of presenters at their stage-managed Annual General Meeting on December 9th.

*** Thank you to all who supported our first ever TGCTS Live edition. It was much easier technologically than I had expected, and the interaction with the audience was very beneficial.

- The podcast will be posted in 2 parts to ensure fewer server crashes etc, as it was a long presentation. Kenny advises Part 1 should be ready for this weekend.

- The audience was very impressed with the participation of eyewitnesses from Mynarski ward, who put the lie to the claims our reporting of the civic election was flawed.

- The presentation made clear to all, that the real story of the cancellation of TGCTS has nothing to do with "the best interests of students", and everything to do an attack on the style and substance that set TGCTS apart as the platform for the alternative media to become known to a broader Winnipeg audience and to journalism and radio students from RRC and other courses, and to raise awareness of otherwise untold news angles and stories;

***** As announced at the live event, a local radio commentary gig will be starting in January.

**************************

Speaking of the utterly disgusting, walk-on, scam-tastic, no-Asper-included Stadium payed for by YOU:First of all, candidates in the October election, who on my show on Kick-FM swore they would never turn their back on the public when it came to public consultation, the 'it'll never happen again crowd" - Jenny Gerbasi and John Orlikow, step up - demonstrated why we need recall legislation in this city and province.

Notice how not one MSM reporter asked Jenny if her support for the stadium is tied to her beloved Leg 2 of rapid transit - has anyone heard a single reporter or talk show mention that yet? No ?, because it's just more added expense for you taxpayers they don't want you to be reminded of.

And Orlikow simply has no excuse. After what John went through in River Heights, and he said he learned his lesson? I think Orlikow could have stood up with Russ Wyatt and Harvey Smith for the people of this city, and not for Greg Selinger's re-election campaign.

Another great post by John Dobbin:The provincial NDP should fear the boot. Greg Selinger is showing little restraint and no matter how many times we hear that we need these projects, the question of how to control spending will not go away. So many worthy causes, none worth cutting leads to unimaginable deficits.

As far as city councillors and the mayor, they should fear the nightmare at Polo Park from their development plans and realize it is likely to cost them a lot more to fix traffic problems than they think. Fear the boot. Sam Katz should be particularly ashamed by the last minute walk on for a critical votehttp://johndobbin.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-stadium-walk-on-fear-boot.html

--- And speaking of the boot, how come we NEVER hear of this provincial election projection from MSM outlets in Winnipeg ??"With these poll numbers, the Progressive Conservatives would win a majority government with 32 MLAs, two fewer than my last Angus-Reid projection for Manitoba. The New Democrats have gained those two seats and would win 24 in total. The Liberals would win one seat."http://threehundredeight.blogspot.com/2010/12/pcs-projected-majority-diminishing-in.html

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Our deepest thanks to the friends and fans who attended our first live studio show. The Norwood CC is a great venue and they were totally helpful. Special thank you's to event organizer Bob Axford, our sound tech Shane 'DJ Monkey', Kim the Traffic Reporter, Peanut Gallery, and Caed from Academy of Broadcasting.

Spirited Kenny is hard at work prepping the podcast, which will be posted on this website.

TGCTS on 92.9 Kick-FM showcased the rise of the alternative media in the city. Half a dozen bloggers were in attendance last night. They, and the rest of the audience took great interest in the sequence of events that resulted in the cancellation of TGCTS with 35 minutes notice.

It started with a Free Press reporter running crying to her editor about our coverage of her non-reporting of complaints against NDP Mynarski ward candidate Ross Eadie. He admitted at a public meeting she was covering, to receiving campaign funding from the New Democratic Party, which would be against the law.

In the hands of Free Press management, her tears turned into false allegations against TGCTS that "the incident did not occur".

Despite the fact yet another FP reporter had corresponded with a witness to the incident about Eadie's remarks, and formal complaints against Eadie were filed with city electoral officer Marc Lemoine, the Free Press has never once reported on this.

Instead, they smeared the work and reporting of TGCTS to Red River College President Stephanie Forsyth, who never spoke to anyone about whether the allegations were true or not. On October 22nd she had her staff start to ask about "Marty Goldman" and Kick-FM, which RRC funds and carries the capital debt for.

With no regard for the 4 year long contracted relationship between TGCTS, Kick-FM and RRC's Cre-Comm department ( or for the truth), Forsyth relied on the false allegations from the Winnipeg Free Press as the basis for a "suggestion" to her appointees to the Kick-FM board to cancel the show -- based on her belief that mainstream media should be not named and held accountable when they fail to do their job properly.

After the Podcast we will have more on this blog about Stephanie Forsyth, the "core mandate" of Kick-FM, and her position on Freedom of Speech at a radio station training her own RRC journalism and radio students.

This post will be updated with links as more reviews become available.

You might wonder: did Ross Eadie really say that he was receiving support from the NDP? Well, that's what some people heard, and there are complaints to that effect currently sitting with the city elections official. There were also a couple of witnesses from the New Winnipeg forum, at least one of whom I have met personally so I know they are a real person.

************************More live events are being planned for 2011. We expect to have a number of Freedom of Information files from organizations such as The Winnipeg Parking Authority, The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, and Red River College, to bring forward to the public at those shows.

Another act of kindness comes from Michael Melanson, publisher of RETROPEG. The magnificent compilation portraying Winnipeg in the 70's - captured in stark Black and White photos by former Winnipeg musician James Donahue - was a favorite call-in prize and gift for guests. Michael personally delivered cases of RETROPEG to me, and so the first 75 people in attendance at tonight's TGCTS Show will get a copy, as a token of our appreciation for your support.

We will be bringing forward even MORE new information about the real story behind the cancellation of TGCTS by Red River College officials on the Kick-FM Board, as well as surprising news about MSM reporting practices in the recent civic election.

Stand Up For Free SpeechTGCTS LIVE !NORWOOD COMMUNITY CLUB87 WALMER ( ST MARYS turn west to FERNDALE, turn right onto Walmer and it is just around the corner)7.30 PM Start time$20 at the door

Saturday, December 4, 2010

A prominent social service agency has informed Red River College that social work students will not be accepted for practicums (necessary to complete their diploma) after 3 RRC employees concealed their role in terminating The Great Canadian Talk Show on 92.9 Kick-FM.

And other social service agencies have been informed of the deception, and may impose similar sanctions.

Barb Judt, executive director of Canada's oldest women's shelter, Osborne House, had been scheduled as a guest on the canceled November 8th episode of TGCTS, to launch a $10,000 fundraising drive for the shelter.

"The demand never ends" Judt told TGCTS this morning, " and women and children arrive at our doorstep with literally nothing and shattered spirits. They should never be the victims of institutional politics or the abuse of power and control. There are people in this city who need to learn to keep their ego in check, and realize it's not all about them."

* TGCTS had championed the cause of the shelter afterclients and staff were endangered by construction of the botched Assiniboine Bike Lane in the South Broadway neighborhood. The vehicle restrictions that resulted impaired emergency response and supply deliveries to the area.

Among the negative effects of the bike lane was a tripling of the taxi fares paid by the agencydue to gridlock and indirect routing caused by the loss of an eastbound driving lane.

Judts' explicit pleas to top civic officials -- including Mayor Katz -- to stop the project and engage in proper public consultation were ignored, and the mainstream media never reported on the plight of the shelter or offered to help.

"Come spend a day in my office, you'll have your eyes opened in ways you never imagined." said Judt. " After their success with reporting on the civic election, we were counting on the alternative media and Marty's show and staff to help raise awareness and ensure the voice of women and children in need was heard loud and clear."

** Judt heard of the cancellation on Friday Nov. 5 from a Free Press employee at a public event she was attending. Judt called RRC's Dean of Applied Arts, Graham Thomson, a member of the Kick-FM Board, the morning of November 8th to protest. Thomson assured her no decision about the fate of TGCTS had been made.

However late that afternoon, before he had even told host Marty Gold, Thomson called Judt to tell her he "should have been more upfront" and she would not be on the air that day. Judt told him a victim of domestic violence had agreed to tell her story to the broadcast audience that day, and that statistics showed that RRC students were in the age group most impacted by domestic violence. Thomson said there was no plan, but "we'll do something later", leaving Osborne House hanging.

** In a National Post story on November 17, Thomson

- confirmed Red River president Stephanie Forsyth had been contacted about "concerns" the Winnipeg Free Press (a supporter of the bike lane project) had with criticism voiced on TGCTS about the newspaper;

- admitted the "concerns" had been discussed by Forsyth with at least one RRC employee who is a designate to the Kick-FM Board; and

- stated the decision to axe the show was made on Nov. 2nd at a meeting he attended.

That meant Thomson had misled Judt when she first called him to express her alarm that people connected to the Free Press were spreading news about a silencing of TGCTS.

** RRC employee Cathy Hanson called Judt on Friday Nov 19th asking appearing on one of the substitute programs. Later that day Judt emailed:

"I have just learned that you are a voting member of the 92.9 CKIC.FM Radio Station Board of Directors 2009 - 2010. I understood from our conversation you were just an instructor with the college who wasn't involved with what had transpired with TGCTS/Marty Gold. This is a surprise to me and I would like you to tell me what your role in this was as I can only conclude that there was participation to silence women living with domestic violence in their lives."

** When Hanson clammed up, Judt, who runs Manitoba's largest women's shelter, took her questions to Larry Partap, head of the Creative Communications program demanding answers :

"The lack of maturity on the student's behalf was evident as the word 'retard' was mentioned on air the other day. How terribly inappropriate... The other reason for being on the show as I have explained to Graham Thomson was to raise funds for our agency. An on-air show can easily generate 10k for us and we have now missed out on this. These are the dollars used to help women and children escaping unimaginable acts of violence in their own homes...

Larry - again, I ask what was Cathy's role as well as your role withcontributing to the cancellation of the Marty Gold's show."

** On November 28 Thomson replied:

"As Cathy Hanson's dean, I offered to respond to your emails. Cathy had no role in the decision that resulted in The Great Canadian Talk Show ceasing to broadcast on KICK FM. The decision was made by the executive committe, of which Cathy is not a member. We are puzzled by your statement "I can only conclude that there was participation to silence women living with domestic violence in their lives", as nothing could be further from the truth. As I mentioned, Cathy was not involved in the previously mentioned decision, and that decsion had nothing to do with silencing women. You were offerred airtime and declined."

** Judt patiently responded:

"No need to be puzzled Graham - the facts have been presented to many of youon numerous occasions so let's get back to the real crux of my email.

We were offered airtime with a group of people who have not instilled asense of confidence in our agency that they truly have an understanding of domestic violence.

The programming that has replaced TGCTS lacks content and depth.

I am sure you would agree that women and children deserve better than that. Our concerns are backed by the fact that your student freely used the word 'retard' on the air.

This is obviously something that has not been covered off in your course content and until the college demonstrates a stronger commitment to the community especially in terms of an acceptable standard of diverse points of view, maturity and communication, Osborne House Inc.will not be accepting any requests that come from the college for practicum students... "

Judt then revisited the unanswered question:

"Who are the members of the Executive Committee?How interesting is it Cathythat you didn't disclose this little bit of information to me during our conversation."

** The next morning Thomson was forced to admit

"The Executive committee is David Wiebe, Chris Stevens, Cathy Rushtonand Larry Partap. The first two are radio industry executives and the others are Red River College employees."

* * Judt's response to Thomson, Partap and Hanson was swift and direct:

"So, Larry Partap was part of the group that played a hand in canceling the show or in our case, silencing women and children living with domestic violence in their lives.

How interesting is it Larry that you too, didn't disclose this when I asked. Neither did you Cathy.

What excuse do the three of you have to offer for not being forthcoming with your information?

Sitting on a board requires a particular level of conduct ... something that appears to be lacking here. Honesty, fairness, acceptance of diverse points of view, a sense of social responsibility are just a few of the traits that contribute to a successful board. I am ever more appalled that three men and one woman knew of our show, knew of our plight to raise funds in a tough economic time and still shut the show down... The air time with Marty - a host that has demonstrated to the shelter that he well understands domestic violence, would have made a significant difference to your students and listeners.

"How interesting is it thatI sat at a workshop recently where Cathy Rushtonblithered on about how much the not for profit community means in the Cityof Winnipeg.....how much she believes in the work we do....how much of asupporter she is....why don't you ask her about it. It was the State of the Not for Profit Sector Symposium held at the Aboriginal Center on Higgins in October. I've been asked to join as a member and have declined outlining this as my reason.

... The Executive shut us down and this needs to be brought to the attention of the board and public at your AGM. I am requesting a time to speak at your AGM about this".

** Judt has learned the executive committee is holding a conference call on Monday to discuss "logistics" for the Annual General meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday Dec. 9th at 11.30 AM, at the Princess Campus.

As of today, Barb Judt has not received confirmation Osborne House will be allowed to speak to the Board of Kick-FM.

available atCDI College , 280 Main St 9-5 PM(please have exact change)or by emailing martygoldlive@gmail.com****************From listeners:

Hi, was so very curious why I wasn't hearing the show on my way home from work and decided to do some googling to figure out what's happened. So very sad to hear that the show was cancelled, it was the only reason why I tuned into "College Radio". Absolutely loved the Show. It educated me on so many issues. For the record the show prompted me to take part for the very first time in the election process. I am a 43 year old who had never voted before listening to your show. I also engaged my spouse in the process, again all due to your show.

Somehow I hope that the show gets back on the air in some shape or form as I guess I will have go back to listening to my IPod on the way home from work:(, nothing else compares.

Sincerely,Tanis

******Marty, I am in shock to find out that your show has been cancelled. It is like I have just suffered a huge loss.

For the last couple weeks I have been trying to tune in to your show but I obviously could not find it. I really thought you were taking a well deserved holiday and not once did it occur to me that your show has been cancelled. I guess you just got to close to the powers that be and theyare probably saying this will teach him a lesson. Well Marty don't stop reporting as you truly have a gift.

please let me know if you start doing pod casts or online radio shows or even start up your own Huffington Post :)

Huge Fan,LB

PS: let me know when your own Rally to restore Sanity is*******

Hello to all Great Canadian Talk staff.

While I am sorry to hear about the change in locations of the show, I am proud to hear the new podcast.

I believe that in today's world that most people are told what the news is and we no longer ask questions and enquire into news, instead we accept what the main stream media tells us is fact, instead of us doing our own investigation to determine what the actual facts and truth to the matter is.

I am an avid fan of being critical of government, regional, provincial and federal. As well as the people we elect to those positions.

TGCTS always called out those people to provide answers. Whether the answer was determined to be legitimate, or not one that people wanted to hear, TGCTS at least asked the question.

It is absolutly disgusting how RRC treated TGCTS. I do realize that the college is allowed to change direction, but there are ways to do so. Make sure you take any direction that you need to clear this matter up. If need be Power Pro Wrestling and all our legal avenues are at the disposal of TGCTS.

Shaun MyallPresidentPower Pro Wrestling****************MY THANKS TO ACADEMY OF BROADCASTING AND THE NATIONAL SCREEN INSTITUTE ABORIGINAL JOURNALISM PROGRAM FOR INVITING ME TO SPEAK TO THEIR CLASSES.

Think of Red River College and maybe you think of future plumbers and electricians and carpenters and computer programmers and medical technicians, and people learning how to build, maintain and fix huge and complex machinery.When new RRC president Stephanie Forsyth thinks of the college, she thinks about how the school and its students can relate to the planet, and how Red River can attract and keep students now too often unable to benefit from an education."I don't consider myself an academic. I'm first and foremost a practitioner," said Forsyth...

* The second was about a gratuitous Selinger government press conference held at RRC on November 18th, with Forsyth photographed in a group conversation with Education Minister Nancy Allan about new 'stay-in school' legislation. As in, 'stay in high school'.

Red River College is not a high school, and is unaffected by the new legislation.

* The third story was actually in a special advertorial insert this past Saturday, in which Forsyth espoused all sorts of values RRC supposedly holds as one of "Manitoba's Top 25 Employers".

Forsyth has been an 'employer' since only Sept 27th; no mention of the man who made RRC a top-notch workplace, former radio journalist and past president Jeff Zabudsky, was made.

" Here, diversity is embraced, success is celebrated and innovation is encouraged. People are proud to work at RRC- it's a community committed to learning...we care about our people. It shows through the kind of environment we have created, one that mirrors the values of our employees, including family, community, sustainability and partnerships"

"It's very satisfying to know that the work we do has such a positive impact all around."

Former employees under Forsyth's command may have a different story to tell about her record as a "practitioner" - not that the Free Press would want to interrupt their fawning coverage with bothersome facts about the new darling of the Advanced Edumacation set.

"SUNLIGHT filters through the windows of Northwest Community College’s newly-opened ($2.5 million) longhouse as its outgoing president, sitting at a table in the otherwise empty main room, addresses the topic head on.“I’ve heard people in town say this is an Indian college. Nothing could be further from the truth,” says Stephanie Forsyth.The topic is how Forsyth has changed the college over her decade-long tenure from being a place of primarily white Canadiana to one that also reflects the region’s aboriginal population.“It wasn’t deliberate. It was done unknowingly and with no idea that we were perpetuating colonialism ... "Forsyth’s transformation of the college began by giving its buildings aboriginal names...

snip

While Forsyth’s vision for Northwest Community College has been fixed and focused, there have been plenty of challenges and some setbacks.“Well it wasn’t a disaster but it was disappointing and that was what happened with our plans for a new campus in Prince Rupert,” she said of one of the larger challenges.The provincial Liberal government, newly elected in 2001, froze all public sector building projects the year after, including the college’s badly needed and long-planned Prince Rupert campus.“It was a blow to the morale of the staff in Prince Rupert,” remembers Forsyth.What’s worse is that work had already started.“We had a big hole in the ground and had to put a fence around it and security on site,” said Forsyth.The provincial freeze resulted in an 18-month delay and a change in the building’s design.

She’s also had to deal with what seems to be an annual shortfall of money when it comes to the college’s budget.Her final president’s newsletter to college employees says “the [financial] storm brewing this year is particularly harsh.”

But alienation within the general community and her vision of expansion being scuttled by provincial government funding shortfalls weren't the only issues that found Forsyth on the defensive.

" Forsyth has a reputation for being an exacting employer, demanding much from her senior managers.“I set a standard and I know it’s high. Perhaps that’s a weakness as I may not make it myself,” she says of her expectations.... But Forsyth did describe as “unfair” suggestions she is a micromanager, zeroing in on issues and situations.“With new people it’s critical they get my guidance until they’ve got it,” said Forsyth. “But then I’ll leave you alone and you only need to come to me if you need my help.”

* On November 17th The National Post reported that Forsyth ('an exacting employer') was contacted by the editor of the Winnipeg Free Press, and thereafter Forsyth repeated their complaint without investigating its validity, to an RRC Vice-President.

This set in motion a chain of events that resulted in Forsyth's employees -- who are also appointees to the Kick-FM Executive Committee -- engineering a format change that affected only one program - the very show the Free Press editor Margo Goodhand was "concerned" about (but has never listened to) : The Great Canadian Talk Show.

In this case, Forsyth appears to have reversed her usual practice, and the 6 week resident of Winnipeg gave "guidance" to RRC employees who have sat on the board of Kick-FM for all 4 years of TGCTS airing without one formal, written complaint being filed.

* Also unreported in the Free Press- or anywhere else in local mainstream media - is any mention of Forsyth's aborted relocation to the prestigious Vancouver Community College. She accepted the VCC job, but never actually started it. There is no clue online as to why not.

But the Feb. 6, 2009 press release from NWCC that trumpeted her new position, gives a few clues as to her agenda in now coming to Manitoba.

"President Stephanie Forsyth, Northwest Community College, announced today that she has accepted an offer to assume the Presidency of Vancouver Community College (VCC) effective October 2009.

"... to bring my voice closer to the seat of government and campaign on behalf of all community colleges in British Columbia" "

I love Christmas. I receive a lot of wonderful presents I can't wait to exchange.

— Henny Youngman

As embers of the yule log glow in the chimney and another uneventful year in British Columbia politics comes to a close, it's time to give out a few Political Connections Christmas Awards to the truly deserving. Whether you've been naughty or nice, these little stocking stuffers will bring cheer to the holiday season--though probably not to those receiving them.

snip

YOU'D BE HIRED--IF WE WEREN'T ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED AWARD

Another happy face saying "You're hired" in the Business Council television ads is that of Stephanie Forsyth, president of Northwest Community College in Terrace.

But on September 16, Forsyth was telling a very different story to the provincial select standing committee on finance and government services meeting in Terrace.

"It is my premise, and that of my colleagues in the north, that education and training are preconditions for social and economic development of any community, especially in one as economically depressed as ours," said Forsyth. "The province needs to effectively turn its attention to the social and economic development of the northwest. We have had numerous discussions but, as yet, we have no real, effective, tangent strategies to turn the economy around here."

Wait a minute, Stephanie! You're living in an area that is "economically depressed" and you're on TV talking about people getting hired ? You say there is no real, effective government strategy "to turn the economy around", but you appear in a commercial that says "with B.C.'s economic policies on the right track, employers are preparing for a decade of job growth"?

It sounds like Forsyth herself shouldn't have been hired for the ad.*************